martin luther king's birthday. joining me now, the msnbc contributor, eugene robinson and author of barack obama, the story. let's start with you, david. and there's your book up there. this was -- i thought more of an argument, less than a melding pot than a mosaic. it was an interesting way in which he talked about the different groups that got him re-elected and the way he paid tribute today. >> he came up late in the civil rights movement and always said that he regretted that. this is what he finally proclaimed with such passion today. you can look at his life and doctor king and the rise of civil rights in a very personal way. the day barack obama was born, four civil rights workers were arrested in louisiana. on august 4th, the civil rights act was passed by the senate. so there's so much history that was sort of, you could see it in his face today, i think in a more profound way than even is first inaugural. >> well, he comes from an unusual background. he comes from an immigrant mother who left the scene,